A question I get asked all too often is around whether to set up a limited company or not? I’ve always maintained my expertise is not around tax (as much as it is the Accountant’s job and that’s why I have one..you should do too), but on this platform I can always share my thoughts with you.

In November 2015, George Osborne disclosed plans to restrain the buy to let (BTL) market, implying its growing attractiveness was leaving aspiring first time buyers contesting with landlords for the restricted number of properties on the market. One of things he brought in was that tax relief on BTL mortgages would be capped, starting in April 2017. Before April 2017, a private landlord could claim tax relief from their interest on their BTL mortgage at the rate they paid income tax – (i.e. 20% basic /40% higher rate and 45% additional rate).

So, for example, let’s say we have a Walsall landlord, a high rate tax payer who has a BTL investment where the rent is £600 a month and the mortgage is £400 per month. In the tax year just gone (16/17), assuming no other costs or allowable items …

Annual rental income £7,200.

Taxable rental income would be £2,400 after tax relief from mortgage relief

Meaning they would pay £960 in income tax on the rental income

And assuming no other changes… the landlord would have income tax liabilities (at the time of writing June 2017) in the tax years of …

(17/18) £1,200

(18/19) £1,440

(19/20) £1,680

(20/21) £1,920

Walsall landlords who are higher rate tax payers are going to have be a lot smarter with their BTL investments and ensure they are maximising their rental properties full rental capability. However, there is another option for landlords.

The Walsall landlords who own the 20,380 (all WS postcodes) rental properties in the Town could set up a Limited Company and sell their property personally to that Limited Company

In fact, looking at the numbers from Companies House – many landlords are doing this. In the UK, there are 93,262 BTL Limited Companies, and since the announcement in November 2015 – the numbers have seen a massive rise.

Q2 2015 / Q3 2015 – 4,193 Buy to Let Limited Companies Set Up

Q4 2015 / Q1 2016 – 5,403 Buy to Let Limited Companies Set Up

Q2 2016 / Q3 2016 – 3,007 Buy to Let Limited Companies Set Up

Q4 2016 / Q2 2017 – 7,149 Buy to Let Limited Companies Set Up

So, by selling their buy to let investments to their own limited company, owned 100% by them, these landlords could then offset the costs of running their BTL’s as an ‘allowable expense’ – effectively writing off the cost of 100% of their mortgage outgoings, wear and tear and upkeep, letting agent’s fees etc.

I am undeniably seeing more Walsall landlords approach me for my thoughts on setting up a BTL limited company, so should you make the change to a limited company? In fact, I have done some extensive research with companies house in the 17 months (1st January 2016 to 31stMay 2017 and 83 BTL Limited Companies have been set up in the WS postcodes alone).

Well if you are looking to hold your BTL investments for a long time it could be very favourable to take the short-term pain of putting your BTL’s in a limited company for a long-term gain. You see, there are huge tax advantages to swapping property ownership into a limited company but there are some big costs that go with the privilege.

As the law sees the new Limited Company as a separate entity to yourself, you are legally selling your BTL property to your Limited Company, just like you would be selling it on the open market. Your Limited company would have to pay Stamp Duty on the purchase and if you (as an individual) made a profit from the original purchase price, there could be a capital gains tax liability of 18% to 28%. The mortgage might need to be redeemed and renegotiated (with appropriate exit charges).

On a more positive note, what I have seen though by incorporating (setting up the Limited Company) is landlords can roll up all their little buy to let mortgages into one big loan, often meaning they obtain a lower interest rate and the ability to advance new purchase capital. Finally, if the tax liability is too high to swap to a limited company, some savvy buy to let investors are leaving their existing portfolios in their personal name whilst purchasing any new investment through a limited company (just an idea (not advice!)? Another avenue which I haven’t had the opportunity to explore yet is setting up a Property Management Company Trust..? Watch this space for the upcoming article…

It’s vital that landlords get the very best guidance and information from tax consultants with the right qualifications, experience and insurance. Whatever you do, always get the opinions from these tax consultants in writing and you shouldn’t hurry into making any hasty decisions. The modifications to BTL tax relief are being progressively eased in over the next three years so there is no need to be unnerved and rush into any decisions before finding out the specifics as they relate precisely to your personal situation, because with decent tax planning (from a tax consultant) and good rental / BTL portfolio management (which I can help you with)… whatever you do – let’s keep you the right side of the line!

Meet the Author

Salek Miah

Hi and thank you for visiting this blog. I have been involved in the Walsall Property Market since 1999, owning and then running my own property management company since 2005.

I have always shared my thoughts on the local property market in Walsall with my landlords, but now I want to share with everyone in the town including many outside of the area who have an interest.

On this blog I will talk about what is happening in the town’s property market itself, even looking at specific streets or housing estates. At other times I will post what I consider decent buy to let deals. As I am not involved in sales my loyalty is not divided. I can look at the whole of market and give you, independent and impartial advice on what I consider the best investment opportunities.